Eight Signs it’s Time to Replace Your Windows

Inefficient and out of date windows can be a cash drain hidden in plain sight. They can skyrocket your electricity bill and make your house unpleasantly cool in the winter time.

However, replacing your windows is a costly investment and major home renovation, and judging when it's time for your windows to go can be a tricky proposition at best.
To help make this decision easier, here are eight signs that your windows need renovating:

Your House Is Older Than 15 Years

If you have an older house there's a reasonable chance that you don't have efficient windows. While this isn't a sign in itself, it's an indicator that you should pay close attention to the rest of this list.

They're Single Pane

It might be a bit tricky to tell if you have single or double paned windows, but by looking at an angle and you should be able to identify whether it’s one or two panes of glass. Single pane windows are far less efficient than modern double windows and should be replaced.

It's Significantly Colder Near Your Windows

This is perhaps the most obvious sign your windows need replacing. Though even the best windows aren't as efficient of insulators as a wall, if you need to run and grab a sweater every time you sit down by the window, there may be an issue.

If you're consistently finding condensation on the inside of your window, that may also be another sign that your windows are not sealed property as moist air is allowed to enter.

Your Energy Bill is Overly Expensive

If you're paying far more on power over the winter months than any of the houses you know, your windows could be to blame. Poorly insulating windows can be a major drain on the power bill every month.

Rotting or Mouldy Frame

This may sound like an obvious thing to look for, but it easily goes unnoticed. If there’s mould around the bottom edge of your window or the sill is beginning to rot, that could mean that moisture is entering from outside and dripping down.

They're Foggy on the Inside

Depending on the severity this may only be a cosmetic issue. However, if your windows are fogging in between the two panes, that means the seal has broken and moisture has gotten into your windows.
While any home renovation is a major undertaking, windows can be particularly tricky to decide when to replace. Hopefully this post has shown you a few ways to tell if it's time to do so.

Comments (6)

Leave A Comment

6 Comments

Posted on Jan 27 | 2015 By James Bergman

I have windows that are foggy in between the panes. I tried to heat up the windows to try and get some of the moisture out, but as you probably guessed, it didn’t work too well. Is there a way to fix my windows or will I need to just have them replaced?

Posted on Jan 27 | 2015 By landmark-user

Posted on Jan 27 | 2015 By April Cook

Our energy bill is way too expensive and we are doing all we can to cut it down. We have very old windows,so I think replacing them might be a good idea. I never thought of them as being a weak point in out insulation! Would adding a UV film to the windows help to significantly lower our costs too? Thanks for all this great information!

Posted on Jan 27 | 2015 By Liz Fiore

Hi, I see that I have ice on my window frame!
Help! Super cold outside.
I asked ppl and they say “poor ventilation”, I think it’s poor insulation.

Posted on Jan 27 | 2015 By landmark-user

Hi Liz, we would be more than happy to send one of our expert consultants your way to take a look at the window and try to identify the problem for you. please feel free to give us a call at 1-866-355-3332 and we can set that up for you. Than ks for your comment and we hope to talk soon.

Posted on Jan 27 | 2015 By Lillian Schaeffer

Thanks for bringing to my attention the value of replacing single pane windows. My husband and I just moved into an older home, and most of the windows only have a single pane, but I didn’t realize that this was so detrimental to energy efficiency! Perhaps it would be a good idea to have those replaced with something better insulated so we can save money over time.